Integral record-envelope assembly and method of making the assembly



Aprll l2, 1966 H. GORMAN 3,245,691

INTEGRAIJ RECORD-ENVELOPE ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR MAKING THE ASSEMBLY Filed Oct, 14, 1965 2 Sheets-Shea#l 1 INV A6 NT FIGS .QE/URN ADDRESS April 12, 1966 Filed Oct. 14, 1965 H. GORMAN 3,245,691

INTEGRAL RECORD-ENVELOPE ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR MAKING THE ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HARRY GORMAN ENTOR.

AGE T United States Patent O 3,245,691 INTEGRAL RECORD-ENVELOPE ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF MAKING THE ASSEMBLY Harry Gorman, New York, N.Y. (2717 Holland Ave., Bronx, N.Y.) Filed Oct. 14, 1963, Ser. No. 315,988 3 Claims. (Cl. 274-42) This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 258,020, filed Feb. 12, 1963.

My present invention relates to receptacles provided with sound-reproducing means -upon a surface thereof and, more particularly, to envelopes and the like composed essentially of flexible -material and having soundlreproducing means, adapted to be used with phonographrecord-playing devices, upon a surface thereof as well as to a method of producing such receptacle.

It is well known that exible sheet material can be provided Withv layers of synthetic-resin material laminated thereto and impressed with modulated spiral grooves constituting sound-reproducing means. Phonograph records of this type can have relatively good fidelity of sound reproduction and, because of their light Weight and ilexibility, are particularly suitable for transmission through the mails and are inexpensive as compared with pressing made upon rigid substrates. In my copending application Ser. No. 258,020, tiled February l2, 1963, of which the present application is a continuation-in-part, I disclose a laminated flexible phonograph record wherein some of the disadvantages of earlier devices of this type can be eliminated. One of the drawbacks of such earlier records was the tendency of the substrate to deform during transmission and subsequent use. In the aforementioned copending application I have described a method for avoiding such deformation. In accordance with this method, a sheet of flexible fibrous material, e.g. paper or cardboard, is provided with a synthetic resin laminate and then folded into a plurality of layers, one or more of which are provided with sound-reproducing faces, the superposed layers stitfening the sound-reproducing faces against deformation. Moreover, the laminate of this copending application extends beyond the folded edge or edges to provide further rein-forcement against deformation.

I have now discovered, surprisingly, that similar results can be obtained, and the use of envelopes for transmitting the phonograph record eliminated as an independent insert together with other legible matter, when the phonograph record is incorporated in the transmission receptacle. This arrangement offers great advantage, as will become apparent hereinafter, since the independent and separate production of the receptacle and the record can Abe avoided. The economy of this method will be readily apparent when it is realized that the conventional technique of including the record as an insert in envelopes of a mass mailing requires extra postage as a consequence of the separate weight of the record, sepav rate forming steps for the record and envelope, and the additional step of inserting the record into the envelope.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide a receptacle having sound-reproducing means incorporated therewith.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a method of producing a receptacle having sound-reproducing means incorporated therewith.

The novel article of manufacture of the present invention is a receptacle having at least one broad interior or exterior face with a sound-reproducing means, i.e. a modulated spiral groove engageable by the stylus of a phonograph-record-playing device, formed thereon. This improvement is based upon the discovery that, although it has long 'been the belief in the phonograph-record art ICC that it is essential to provide protective coverings for the grooved surfaces of records, such sound-reproducing means can be impressed upon laminated sheet material of receptacles such as envelopes without significant danger of deterioration of the recording in the normal handling of mail. Thus it is an essential feature of the instant invention that a flexible fibrous sheet of paper, cardboard or the like can be laminated with a plastically deformable synthetic-resin layer into which the modulated soundrecording groove can 'be impressed, the rec-Ording surface constituting either the inner or outer face of an envelope or other receptacle folded from the sheet. Preferably, the receptacle is of rectangular configuration, with the broad laminated surface juxtaposed with another broad surface and joined thereto along three edges of the rectangle, a closure means in the form of a flap or the like, integral with the sheet, being disposed along one or more of the edges.

More generally, the polygonal receptacle has one or more sides interconnecting the two broad surfaces which are superimposed and thus provide support against deformation, the connecting edges providing further reinforcement. Advantageously, the synthetic-resin laminate covers at least part of the broad surface carrying the sound-reproducing means and extends over one or more of the connecting edges onto the other surface and thus serves to stitfen these edges and limit deformation. At least the sound-record surface and preferably both surfaces are provided with respective apertures located at the axis of the spiral grooves for receiving the upright centering post of the phonograph, the apertures of both surfaces registering for satisfactory mounting upon the turntable. The apertures referred to herein need not, of course, be throughgoing holes upon original formation, since it is satisfactory if the outline of the aperture is perforated to facilitate extraction of the sheet material at the aperture. The synethetic resin can be of any conventional type (e.g. a cellulosic ester, a polyvinyl chloride or polyester) readily laminated to the cellulosic substrate.

According to another feature of the invention, the sound-reproducing groove may be impressed in the laminated layer concurrently with blanking of the sheet material and/ or the die-cutting thereof to form the closure flap. Advantageously, the die-cutting operation also includes the formation of a throughgoing opening in a portion of the brous substrate extending beyond the laminate layer and provided to expose legible matter, such as the address of the individual to whom the envelope is directed, advertising matter, the title of the subject matter of the recording or the like, contained upon an insert within the envelope. Thus the insert may `be a reply card, sales contract or the like which is preaddressed, the address serving as the address for the envelope into which the recording is incorporated. Simultaneously with the diecutting of the sheet, the latter can be perforated intermediate the closure means and/or the opening and the sound-reproducing means so that these superfluous portions of the receptacle can ybe removed. When the soundrecording surface is provided upon one or more inner faces of the envelope, the latter can be perforated along at least two edges for separation along these edges and the edge previously provided with the closure means so that the broad surfaces can be inverted about the remaining connecting edge and reveal the sound-reproducing surface for playing. In this case, corresponding outer edges of the broad surfaces can be provided with bands of a pressure-responsive adhesive capable of forming a bond when the two edges are brought into contact but incapable of 4bonding to other materials. This arrangement ensures that the inverted surfaces will be held together along at least one other edgein addition to their common connecting edge. The term perforated is used herein to indicate weakening of the junction between two regions to facilitate separation.

The above and other objects, features and advantages.

of the present invention will become more. readily apparent fromthe following description, reference. -beingmade to the appended drawing in which:

FIG. l is a plan view of an envelope-type receptacle provided with sound-reproducing means, according to the invention;

FIG'. 2- is a' cross-sectional view taken along the line II'-II of FIG. lg.

Fl`G`.-3 is a View similar. to- FIG. 1 of a modifiedv emv bodiment;

FIG. 4' is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV'of FIG; 3; and

FIG; 5-is a perspective view of still another receptacle, accordingy to the invention.

FIGS. 1. and 2' show a paper or cardboard envelope.

I havingy part of one of its outer broad surfaces 2 pro-- vided` with a layer 3 of'synthetic resin (approximately 1 mil cellulose acetate) laminated thereto. The laminate 3. isimpressed with a spiral modulated. groove. 4 for the. reproduction of sound when tracked by the stylus of a phonograph. A throughgoing aperture. 5 is provided in bothof the broad surfaces of the envelope to permit the entire receptacle to be centered upon the phonograph turntable, the two broad faces, secured together along. their three adjoining edges, providing a doubled stiffness and, consequently, increasedy stability of the syntheticresin laminate. In allof the figures, the thicknessof the laminate has -been greatly exaggerated for clarity of illustration. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 andv 2, the unlaminated' portions of surface 2 can be imprinted. with legible matter, such as the address 2a of the. individual to whom the envelope is to bey directedV and areturn. address 2c, postage stamps or meter indications being provided in the usual manner at 2b. The fiapA 2d con-z stitutes the closure means for the envelope which is-.scored at 2e, concurrently with the blanking ofthe sheet from which the envelope is folded'. ItV is thencemented con.-y

ve'nti'onally; Advant'ageously the yblank can be imprinted prior to` lamination, the laminate then being transparent and serving as a protective layer overlying the.y imprint.

FIGS. 34 and' 4 show a modified envelope. which. is perforated atv I along itsl front and rear faces soy that the receptacle can be subdivided into two sections. Section 115 is completely or partly covered by a synthetic resin laminate4 7, provided with the sound-reproducing` means, which extends over the three connecting edges onto the lower. broad face 8` of the envelopev from the upper face' 6. The connecting edges and the. lower Su1rface are thus further stiffened to limit deformation.` of. the unit. It will be understood that the laminate' 7 can also completely cover the lower surface which can then be provided with additional sound-reproducing means. The remaining. section 12 of the envelope, which can be detached along the' perforated line 10 and discarded when it is desired to play the recording, is provided with. a cutout or opening 9, serving, as a window through whichl legible matter on an insert received within the. envelope can be observed. Generally, the legible matter will include the address to which they envelope isrdirected.

In FIG. I show a cardboard` carton 21, at least one of the broad upper faces 272A of which carries a cellulose acetate laminate 23v into which is impressed a phonograph record 24 as previously described. The legends 25 and other legible matter can be imprinted prior. to laminationA so that the' laminate serves as a protective. covering. The laminate 23' extends onto the narrow sides 26, 27 ofthe carton and thus stiffens the latter, the carton being perforated at 28 along the edges of the record-carrying face to facilitate separation thereof from the remainder of the carton and the closure flap 29. If desired, the narrow. faces. can Ibe perforated at 30 to form marginal portions. 31.. having, maskedv strips. of contact adhesive upon their upper faces. When the masks are removed, the marginal portions 31 canbe folded under and adhered to the underside of the recording surface to limit bending of the latter.

The invention described', and illustrated is believed to admit of many modifications and. variations within the ability of persons skilled in the art, all such variations being considered encompassed in the spirit and scope of the appended claims'.

What isfclaimed is:

1. A method of producing a receptacle having soundreproducing means uponl a= surface thereof, comprisingthe steps of, laminating a plastically deformable layer of a synthetic resin. ontoV aty least oney face. lof. asheet' of fiexibley fibrous material; impressing a. modulated spiral groove engageableby a stylus of a phonograph-recordplaying device in said-layer;die-cutting said sheet to form closure means on Isaid sheet, an 'aperture in -a centralregion of said. layer coaxial with said groove, and a throughgoing openingisV saidr sheet for exposing legible mattery within. thereceptacleg. perforating said sheet intermediate said groove and. said opening; and folding said sheetinto a. generally flat, rectangular receptacle closed on three sides withy said closure meansV on the fourth side of the.A rectangle and a. broadsurface inl the region of saidgroove:

2....A. record-envelope assembly comprising a substantially rectangular receptacle composed of a fiexible laminated. sheet. material folded along at least one edge of the rectangle andr having two substantially planar juxtaposed' surfaces. joined together` at least along three edges of. said. rectangle including said one edgeV whereby said. surfaces define an envelope. structure, said sheet' material includingl an inner. layer of fibrous material along both of said surfaceswith said.. layer of said surfaces unitarily` joined.. at saidlone. edge andl an outer plastically deformable layer laminated to said: inner layer and extending over. at least a. substantial part of onev of said surfaces and aroundeach. of saidthree. edges toliey along at least marginal parts` of theot-her of said` surfaces adjacent saidthree edges; sound-reproducing means impressed in said outer layer. of said one of said surfaces, said soundreproducingr 'means'including av modulated spiral groove terminating at a central .regionandengageable by a stylus of a phonograph-record-playing device, said surfaces both. being provided with means at said central region for forming throughgoing apertures. in said surfacesA for receiving a turntable. spindle of. said apparatus; andv closure means for joining said surfaces together along the remaining` edge. of the rectangle v 3. The assembly defined iny claim 2 wherein the fibrous` material.y of said: inner. layer extendsr beyond saidl outer layer at4 said remaining edge; of.- the rectangle andk is p rovidedwithanopening' communicating with the interior of. said.' receptacle for exposing legible matter contained therewithin, said closure means` including a iap on the portion of said fibrous material extending `beyond said outer layer whereby said` opening lies between said flap and said -outer layer, said surfaces each being perforated intermediate' said opening and said sound-reproducing means for separating at least part of said portion from the remainder of said receptacle.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,225,048 12/ 1940 Hosin 274--42 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,199,718 6/ 1959` France.

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

CLIFFORD B. PRICE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A RECORD-ENVELOPE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR RECEPTACLE COMPOSED OF A FLEXIBLE LAMINATED SHEET MATERIAL FOLDED ALONG AT LEAST ONE EDGE OF THE RECTANGLE AND HAVING TWO SUBSTANTIALLY PLANAR JUXTAPOSED SURFACES JOINED TOGETHER AT LEAST ALONG THREE EDGES OF SAID RECTANGLE INCLUDING SAID ONE EDGE WHEREBY SAID SURFACES DEFINED AN ENVELOPE STRUCTURE, SAID SHEET MATERIAL INCLUDING AN INNER LAYER OF FIBROUS MATERIAL ALONG BOTH OF SAID SURFACES WITH SAID LAYER OF SAID SURFACES UNITARY JOINED AT SAID ONE EDGE, AND AN OUTER PLASTICALLY DEFORMABLE LAYER LAMINATED TO SAID INNER LAYER AND EXTENDING OVER AT LEAST A SUBSTANTIAL PART OF ONE OF SAID SURFACES AND AROUND EACH OF SAID THREE EDGES TO LIE ALONG AT LEAST MARGINAL PARTS OF THE OTHER OF SAID SURFACES ADJACENT SAID THREE EDGES; SOUND-REPRODUCING MEANS IMPRESSED IN SAID OUTER LAYER OF SAID ONE OF SAID SURFACES, SAID SOUNDREPRODUCING MEANS INCLUDING A MODULATED SPIRAL GROOVE TERMINATING AT CENTRAL REGION AND ENGAGEABLE BY A STYLUS OF A PHONOGRAPH-RECORD-PLAYING DEVICE, SAID SURFACES BOTH BEING PROVIDED WITH MEANS AT SAID CENTRAL REGION FOR FORMING THROUHGHGOING APERTURES IN SAID SURFACES FOR RECEIVING A TURNTABLE SPINDLE OF SAID APPARATUS; AND CLOSURE MEANS FOR JOINING SAID SURFACES TOGETHER ALONG THE REMAINING EDGE OF THE RECTANGLE. 